A recent article in the Washington Post questions the lack of national standards for education.  Are there specific things that all students, across the country, should learn?  I think the answer is Yes!  So why, in a country as competitive as ours, are there no national standards for education?  NCLB has set forth benchmarks but many of those are well below most state's standards.  Virginia has the SOL's and North Carolina has the Standard Course of Study.  Granted, they are similar but is it necessary that the standards be identical?  For students that move from one state to another, the transition would certainly be made easier if the standards were uniformed.  But let's not be fooled into thinking that if the standards are the same, that the learning or quality thereof will be the same.  School systems and teachers will still have the say on textbooks and delivery methods, which can significantly contribute to what students learn, even within the framework of nationwide standards.  Many professional organizations, like AATF (American Association of French Teachers) and MENC (Music Educators National Convention), have recommended standards that help solidify content area instruction but until these standards are accepted on a national level there will be little consistency among states.  ¼/p>